What Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network does

Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network is a UK-based membership organization, founded in 2016 as Immerse UK and rebranded in 2022, that operates as the country's flagship network for the extended reality (XR) ecosystem spanning virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and spatial computing. The organization is legally constituted as IUK KTN Limited (company number 08705643), trading as Innovate UK Business Connect, and is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK government's innovation agency. It is not a product company in the conventional sense: its core platform is a 2,147-member directory plus a curated set of programmatic services including the annual Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards (with paid internship prizes from partners such as Snap, Soluis, StoryLab, Wales Millennium Centre, Sugar Creative, and Arup), a funding portal aggregating live XR-relevant grants, working groups on ethics, sustainability, DE&I, accessibility, international, and academic themes, the Lunchtime Live webinar series, the Career Breakout Showcase, an industry reports library, and showcase pages for member projects.

The network's customer base spans UK immersive tech businesses (developers of VR, AR, and MR applications, content creators, hardware and service providers), universities and research institutes (including Staffordshire University, Anglia Ruskin University's StoryLab, and AMRC), and enterprise end-users such as BAE Systems. Founder partners include Epic Games, Microsoft, Digital Catapult, BAE Systems, VIVE (HTC), PwC, Rewind VR, AMRC, and Arup, which provide sector legitimacy, hardware and software ecosystems, and research inputs. Membership is offered in free and premium tiers on a subscription basis, but specific pricing is not publicly disclosed; the organization is primarily funded and supported through Innovate UK rather than commercial revenue, consistent with its role as a quasi-governmental trade network.

Operating with a 13-person team led by Amy Chao (Lead) and Asha Easton (Innovate UK Immersive Technology Lead), the network's go-to-market is community-led: it drives engagement through awards, sector-focused events, the awards reception in London, webinars, an e-newsletter, a LinkedIn presence, and a digital Community Hub, all anchored on the iuk.immersivetechnetwork.org platform. Distribution is UK-domestic, and the value proposition centers on connecting members to funding opportunities, facilitating industry-academic collaboration, providing market intelligence, supporting talent development, and advocating for the sector with government stakeholders.

Name

Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network

Legal name

IUK KTN Limited

Website

https://iuk.immersivetechnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UK government-backed membership network for the immersive technology (XR) ecosystem, founded 2016, serving 2,147+ members with a directory, annual awards, paid internships, a funding portal, working groups, and industry reports under Innovate UK/UKRI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immersive Technology Industry Network

akta.pro primary industry

Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds (BPAMAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

VR/AR Gaming Platforms (BPAMAKAG)

Keywords

• Immersive technology network
• XR industry membership
• Extended reality ecosystem
• UK innovation network
• Virtual reality community

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership: The network offers membership to individuals and organizations in the UK immersive tech ecosystem. Membership terms indicate free and premium tiers with standard terms and conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network operates as a UK-wide membership organization that connects immersive technology (VR, AR, MR and spatial computing) content providers, application developers, service providers, buyers and customers. It delivers its offering through a digital platform with a member directory of 2,147+ individuals and organizations, a funding portal, working groups, project showcases, webinars, the annual Immersive Tech Awards and paid internship placements with industry partners.

Product overview

Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network is a membership organization (previously known as Immerse UK, established in 2016) that serves as the UK's leading network for immersive technologies. Rather than a single product, it operates as a platform-plus-services model offering a directory of 2,147+ members, annual awards competitions (Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards) with internship prizes, a funding portal with live opportunities, working groups on ethics and sustainability, educational webinars, industry reports, and event coordination. The network connects content creators, application developers, service providers, buyers, and customers across the XR ecosystem spanning VR, AR, and MR technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network Membership Membership to the UK's immersive technology network, giving UK-based individuals, companies and organisations access to the member directory, community hub, funding portal, working groups, events and newsletter.
• Members Directory Searchable directory of 2,147+ individuals, organisations and companies innovating in immersive technology across various UK industries and regions, connecting XR professionals, researchers and buyers.
• Funding Portal Online resource providing access to live funding opportunities, grants and investment resources for immersive technology companies and projects in the UK.
• Showcases Platform featuring project showcases from members demonstrating XR applications including VR training, AI animation, tourism and immersive experiences.
• Working Groups Advisory working groups examining innovation insights across Ethics, Environmental Sustainability, ED&I, Accessibility, International and Academic focus areas for the UK XR ecosystem.
• Paid Internship Programme Paid internship placements with industry partners (Snap Inc., Soluis, StoryLab Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University, Wales Millennium Centre, Sugar Creative Studio and Arup) awarded to winners of the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK's innovation agency that funds and supports the Immersive Tech Network. The network operates as part of the Innovate UK ecosystem to help grow the XR industry.
• Snap Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company offering internship prize for award winners, providing AR wearable device development experience at SnapLab in London. Winner also receives 12-month Spectacles subscription.
• Soluis GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmersive engagement studio offering 3-month internship with their team specializing in Virtual Twin environments for architecture, engineering, and construction industry.
• StoryLab Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute offering internship focused on storytelling, games design, and XR development with Phase 1 at StoryLab and Phase 2 collaborating with industry partners including Horizon Europe project REVIVE.
• Wales Millennium CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWales's national performing arts centre co-offering XR production internship with Sugar Creative Studio, focusing on immersive experiences and storytelling.
• Sugar Creative StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWales-based creative technology studio co-offering internship with Wales Millennium Centre for XR production, documentary, performance, and exhibition work.
• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm offering 3-month industrial placement internship focused on innovative, sustainable solutions across the built environment, based at London office.
• SXSW LondonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSXSW London partnered with the 2025 Awards to provide free Screen Passes to winners, offering access to the inaugural European SXSW event featuring tech and creativity showcases.
• Igloo VisionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK's leading immersive space technology company supporting the awards reception and committing to showcase winners' projects at future exclusive events in partnership with WIIT.
• Epic GamessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner of the network; creator of Unreal Engine widely used in XR development.
• Digital CatapultsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner operating the Immersive Lab with VR headsets and haptic devices, supporting businesses in creating inventive XR solutions.
• MicrosoftsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner of the network providing XR hardware and software ecosystem support.
• BAE SystemssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing defense and aerospace industry interest in XR applications.
• VIVE (HTC)supportingTechnology or IntegrationFounder partner and XR hardware provider to the network ecosystem.
• PwCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner providing business consulting expertise and research insights including PwC's VR/AR economic impact studies.
• Rewind VRsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner; immersive experience studio creating VR content for major brands.
• Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner; research center advancing XR applications in manufacturing with Boeing, Rolls-Royce and others.
• AR for Enterprise Alliance (AREA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for enterprise XR events; global organization advancing AR adoption in enterprise settings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Digital Catapult: UK innovation network and a named partner of Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network (founder partner operating the Immersive Lab). Overlapping remit in supporting UK deep tech / immersive startups, but at a broader technology scope beyond XR.

Direct peers

• AWE (Augmented World Expo): Long-running XR community and event organizer (AWE conference, AWE Nite meetups). Comparable as a community-led network that convenes XR talent, enterprises, and developers through awards, events, and year-round programming.
• XR Foundation: Non-profit advancing the XR ecosystem through research, programs, and community-building. Comparable as an XR-focused advocacy and community organization, with a global rather than UK focus.
• VR/AR Association: Global industry association for VR/AR with chapters worldwide; the most direct global analogue to a national XR membership network. Both organizations convene industry, host events, and publish research for the XR ecosystem.

Regional players

• Catalan Digital Tech Alliance (or analogous EU regional XR cluster): European regional XR/digital tech cluster operating with public-private support. Comparable as a publicly-backed regional network convening XR companies, albeit at a smaller geographic footprint.
• EuroXR Association: European scientific and industrial association for XR, with academic and industry membership across Europe. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder XR association, though oriented at the pan-European rather than UK level.

Others

• XR Safety Initiative (XRSI): Global non-profit focused on safety, privacy, and ethics in XR/emerging tech. Comparable as an XR ecosystem non-profit, but specialized in standards/risk rather than broad community convening.
• Kaleidoscope XR (or analogous creative industry XR body): Foundation supporting immersive and new media creators through funding, residencies, and showcases. Comparable in mission — backing XR talent and content — though focused on creative production rather than a multi-industry XR network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iuk-immersive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network